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Tuesday, February 2, 2016

I don't usually read erotic romance, but Laura Sheehan's description of Hidden Fortune in our Los Angeles Romance Writers - LARA yahoo group intrigued me. Sweet, funny, erotic? Really? I asked her to send me a copy for review. Her description was right on. I loved it! This delightful well-written novella is sweet, funny, and has a couple of well done erotic scene. It also has a treasure hunt and a mystery. Ava is a lawyer who doesn't take chances - in life or in love. But one summer night at a carnival, her best friend makes her promise to do something spontaneous before the night is over. And she does. She visits the Carnival's fortune teller, whose words send her on an adventure she could never have imagined.I love good writing and I asked Laura to appear on the blog.

Laura, please tell us a little about yourself.

I live in Los Angeles with my husband and precocious daughter, both of whom have an insatiable curiosity, love to cause trouble, and are quick to laugh. Each day is a chaotic, glorious adventure, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

I love firsts, so tell me about the first time you kissed your true love?

I met my husband at a house party when

I was a freshman in college. The place was packed with people drinking and laughing and generally being young. We spent the first half of the night flirting outrageously until my girlfriends proclaimed to the crowds that it was time for us to head back to our dorm. Upon hearing of my impending departure, and in front of throngs of partygoers both friends and strangers, he spontaneously grabbed me and kissed me. Although I’d been hoping for a kiss for most of the night, the suddenness of it was the most delightful shock I’d ever experienced! The whole room went silent for a moment (or perhaps I couldn’t hear anything beyond the pounding of my heart?), and then erupted in hoots and hollers. That was almost 17 years ago, and we’ve spoken to each other every single day since the night we met.

What is your favorite pastime, other than writing?

I am a semi-professional dancer, and love to perform on stage whenever I can. Now that I have a toddler, it’s been hard to find the time to rehearse and perform in a real show, but I try to keep dancing by teaching and attending classes whenever I can. My favorite is Musical Theatre/Broadway dance, but I’ll happily take a ballet, jazz, or tap class too, depending on what fits my schedule.

Got a recipe you want to share?

Funny you should ask! I have never been much of a cook, but one of my resolutions for 2016 is to start making more food at home. In addition to being a newbie at this whole kitchen business, I’m also a vegan with very limited time/resources/skill and I have a toddler. So talk about making it challenging to find good recipes! But here’s a link from a friend of mine, it’s a great recipe for Spinach Tofu Risotto which I managed to make all on my own without burning anything down: http://thespianlawyer.blogspot.com/2011/09/sunday-dinner-spinach-tofu-risotto.html

Any advice for new writers just starting out?

If you write romance, I recommend joining Romance Writers of America (RWA). It’s a fabulous resource for new writers, with access to tons of articles about the craft and business for writers.

I wrote this novella in 2013-14 when I was pregnant with my daughter, which was a challenge all in its own! It is an erotic romance novella, a sweet and funny story (with some steaming hot sex scenes) about being bold enough to break out of the every-day patterns that hold us back from discovering new things, like true love.

Blurb: Ava has always played it safe, but after a midnight run-in with a handsome stranger, she discovers that perhaps fortune favors the bold. Can she find the courage to seek the ultimate treasure?

What’s your current WIP?

I’m currently working on a fantasy/paranormal romance, although I also have an idea for a new romantic suspense that is waiting impatiently for me to nurture into a manuscript. With a toddler also pulling at my leg for attention, I don’t know how soon I’ll be able to write, but I’m looking forward to getting the stories out of my head and onto paper soon.